Outlook suddenly wants to install some feature and requires installation CD

[Michael Moser]

What I *really* sometimes hate about MS is, that occasionally they suddenly disable some important part of your system without telling you in advance nor giving any prior warning nor any clue what's going on!

My Outlook (probably due to some recent system updates I was made aware of and installed yesterday) when I start it up now suddenly always brings up a window with an activity bar and telling me "Installing Outlook feature" (it doesn't tell WHAT feature and why it suddenly thinks, that it has to install that feature nor who told it to install that, nor any other helpful context information). After a while it asks for my outlook installation CD and since I don't have that with me right now I can only hit "Cancel" at which point the progress bar goes backwards and Outlook terminates telling me "Outlook has not been installed for this user" (What??? BS!!!).

So, until I get home and am able to insert that darn installation CD my outlook apparently is now disabled.

VERY user friendly! Thanks you, Microsoft!

Michael :-(

 

[Michael Moser]

Are you sure that Outlook is no longer working? What version of
Office/Outlook is this?

Well - when I fire it up, I see the "normal" view (i.e. I see my inbox and the left hand side folders and short cut list, etc.) but there is this popup saying "Installing Outlook feature" on top which is modal and prevents interaction with Outlook underneath. And if I click "Cancel" Outlook terminates again. So - I would say: it IS indeed no longer working (at least not such that it is usable...).

This is Outlook 2002 (aka. Outlook XP).

Michael

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

What I *really* sometimes hate about MS is, that occasionally they suddenly
disable some
important part of your system without telling you in advance nor giving any
prior warning nor
any clue what's going on!

My Outlook (probably due to some recent system updates I was made aware of
and installed
yesterday)

No one forces you to install any of the automatic updates that Microsoft
provides. Don't blame Microsoft because you configured your PC to
automatically accept and install them. Why not configure your PC to ask for
your permission before installing anything, thoroughly research the update
before installing it and then make a system restore point prior to the
installation, testing your PC afyterward to make sure it behaves as you wish?
You can restore the system to the prior state if things don't go well.

 

[JWLoewen]

No one forces you to install any of the automatic updates that Microsoft
provides. Don't blame Microsoft because you configured your PC to
automatically accept and install them. Why not configure your PC to ask for
your permission before installing anything, thoroughly research the update
before installing it and then make a system restore point prior to the
installation, testing your PC afyterward to make sure it behaves as you wish?
You can restore the system to the prior state if things don't go well.

That is a little harsh, especially coming from an MVP. The common MS
consumer has the right to expect that MS recommended updates are going to
function as intended. Taking the steps you suggest is wise, and I agree
wholeheartedly. Its the spirit in which you responded that is questionable.

As an aside, I found 11 updates from Microsoft yesterday, and proceeded to
install them. Now I also have a problem in that Outlook won't print any email
messge, it just hangs. Now if I go back to the previous restore point, and it
works again, then how do I install all these recommended updates without
creating the same problem?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

That is a little harsh, especially coming from an MVP.

I didn't intend to be harsh, only factual. I'm REAL careful abut anyting
that's going to modify my PC.

The common MS
consumer has the right to expect that MS recommended updates are going to
function as intended.

Even updates can contain bugs.

As an aside, I found 11 updates from Microsoft yesterday, and proceeded to
install them. Now I also have a problem in that Outlook won't print any
email
messge, it just hangs. Now if I go back to the previous restore point, and
it
works again, then how do I install all these recommended updates without
creating the same problem?

Were it I doing it, I'd install them one at a time and test after each one,
backing out anything that didn't work to my satisfaction. It's my
understanding that Microsoft provides free support for updates if they exhibit
untoward side-effects, but I may be wrong. I'd document the failures as
thoroughly as possible, then call Microsoft.

 

[Michael Moser]

I didn't intend to be harsh, only factual. I'm REAL careful abut
anyting that's going to modify my PC.

Well - without installing the recommended MS updates, how can you be sure that nothing (i.e. also no virus) is going to modify your system? I guess we are in a catch 22 here: either MS or some other SW *will* modify my PC. So, which one should I prefer?

...
Were it I doing it, I'd install them one at a time and test after
each one, backing out anything that didn't work to my satisfaction.

You must have an enormous amount of time to play with your system (are you currently unemployed?). Sorry - but I can't (and don't want to!) afford that time and hassle, esp. not, if those updates come in a dozen. So, I have to be able to expect, they do work properly (or at least not cause any new show-stopper effects). And that was, what I was trying to voice...

Michael

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Well - without installing the recommended MS updates, how can you be sure
that nothing (i.e. also
no virus) is going to modify your system? I guess we are in a catch 22 here:
either MS or some
other SW *will* modify my PC. So, which one should I prefer?

Microsoft updates don't, for the most part, protect against viruses. They may
protect against other types of attacks, however, like web sites containing
malicious scripts.

You must have an enormous amount of time to play with your system (are you
currently

unemployed?).

Gainfully employed. Computers, however, are how I make my living, so I make
sure nothing stops my income stream, if I can help it.

Sorry - but I can't (and don't want to!) afford that time and hassle, esp.
not, if those updates come in
a dozen. So, I have to be able to expect, they do work properly (or at least
not cause any new show-
stopper effects). And that was, what I was trying to voice...

If I can't test an update, I wait a few weeks before installing it, and then
search for the particular KB number of the update looking for reports from
others who always immediately install anything that comes along. I don't have
any quarrel with your expectation that updates shouldn't cause issues (and for
the most part, they don't), but nothing is perfect and undiscovered side
efffects are almost a surety given the breadth of PC configurations in the
world.